Please sign in

as not regarded as one of the tournament favourites despite from jj009's blog

YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick on Sunday as European champion Real Madrid claimed its second Club World Cup title by beating Japanese side Kashima Antlers 4-2 after extra time. Discount NBA Jerseys .This has been an unbelievable year for me and for the team, Ronaldo said. A few days ago, I won the Ballon dOr so it has been a perfect year for me.Ronaldo also led Portugal to the European Championship final in July, which it won against France.With the score at 2-2 in Japan after normal time, Ronaldo received a pass from Karim Benzema in the 98th minute and calmly fired under Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata to make it 3-2.The Portuguese star then sealed the win six minutes later with a left-footed shot to the roof of the net.We knew this was going to be a difficult match, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. The opponent was very aggressive and was attacking. But we always believe in our ability to attack the opponent. We have so many talented players, so we can achieve great things.Benzema scored Madrids first goal in the ninth minute of the final, pouncing on a rebound off Luka Modrics volley that was palmed away by Sogahata.Gaku Shibasaki equalized in the final minute of the first half and put his team ahead seven minutes after the break when he evaded three defenders on the edge of the box and fired a left-footed strike past an outstretched Keylor Navas.Kashima defender Shuto Yamamoto took Lucas Vazquez down in the box on the hour mark and Ronaldo levelled the score at 2-2 with the resulting penalty kick.Ronaldo, who was named man of the match, won the Club World Cup for the third time adding to titles in 2014 with Madrid and in 2008 with Manchester United.Madrid captain Sergio Ramos returned to the starting lineup for Sundays final.The Spain international wasnt fully fit for Thursdays 2-0 semifinal win over Club America of Mexico and was almost sent off in the 90th minute when he took down Mu Kanazaki.Madrid is unbeaten in any competition since April 6, a run that has lasted 37 games.Madrid has the chance to become the first team to win the Champions League, Spanish league, Spains Copa del Rey, and the Club World Cup in the same season.Kashima was the first Asian side to progress to the final. The J-League champions beat Auckland City, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Atletico Nacional to reach the final.Atletico Nacional sealed third place earlier Sunday, beating Mexican side Club America 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.Substitute Miguel Borja converted the winning spot kick for the Copa Libertadores champion, after Osvaldo Martinez and Miguel Samudio had earlier missed for America.Nacional took an early lead after an own-goal in the sixth minute by America defender Samudio.Alejandro Guerra made it 2-0 in the 26th, steering home a cutback by Orlando Berrio, who was man of the match.Michael Arroyo started the comeback for America in the 38th, slamming home from close range after Samudios ball into the box.Substitute Oribe Peralta then made it 2-2 from the penalty spot in the 66th after Samudio had been fouled by Farid Diaz. Wholesale NBA Jerseys Free Shipping .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. NBA Jerseys China . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. http://www.cheapnbajerseysusa.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla.ISTANBUL, Turkey -- France won the Under-20 World Cup for the first time after drawing with Uruguay 0-0 after extra time and winning the penalty shootout 4-1 on Saturday. France goalkeeper Alphonse Areola saved Uruguays first two penalties -- from Emiliano Velazquez and Giorgian De Arrascaeta -- before Dimitri Foulquier converted the fourth for France, giving the Europeans an insurmountable lead. The French celebrated for minutes on the field with rhythmic dance moves, singing and waving to fans, before captain Paul Pogba lifted the trophy. "Incredible, this is the World Cup, the World Cup, the World Cup! It is something extraordinary," said Pogba, who was voted best player of the tournament by FIFA. "It will need some time to realize what weve done tonight." In the 36-year history of the event, France is the sixth European champion, but only the second in the past 20 years following Spains victory in 1999. "This is a formidable day," France coach Pierre Mankowski said. "I have to take my hat off to my players. France is a collective. Paul (Pogba) is important but it is the group of 21 that won us this title. Solidarity is the biggest quality of this team." Areola starred in goal with a couple of excellent saves in regulation before mastering two penalty kicks. "This is a great feeling, a relief as well," Areola said. "Saving the first two penalties was massive. It gave us a psychological advance as it took the pressure off from our players." Uruguay suffered its second defeat in a final after losing to Argentina in 1997. "Its very tough to talk now," Uruguay coach Juan Verzeri said. "We knew France is one of the best teams in Europe, they have a lot of international experience. Cheap NBA Jerseys From China. We played very well during the first 90 minutes. We couldnt score but we had 20 shots on goal." France had a modest start to the tournament with a draw against the United States and a defeat to Spain, but the team improved in the knockout stage. France found fluency in its attacking game and eased past host Turkey (4-1) and Uzbekistan (4-0), before edging Ghana 2-1 in the semifinals. "I didnt hesitate about the players at all," Mankowski said about the slow start. "The first round of matches is always difficult ... it was a killer group." France conceded just two goals in the knockout stage, and kept a clean sheet in the final despite missing suspended defender Samuel Umtiti, who was sent off for a second booking against Ghana. Uruguay was not regarded as one of the tournament favourites despite defeating 2011 champion Brazil in qualifying. It beat Spain in extra time in the quarterfinals and was held to 1-1 by unheralded Iraq in the semis before advancing on penalties. Six players of Verzeris squad missed out on a world title for the second time after also losing the Under-17 World Cup final to host Mexico in 2011. In Saturdays final, France dominated ball possession, but Uruguay created more danger, mainly through winger Nicolas Lopez, who had six shots on goal. After the match, Uruguays Guillermo De Amores was named best keeper of the tournament by FIFA, while Ghanas Ebenezer Assifuah won the Golden Boot for being the top goal-scorer with six. Ghana beat Iraq 3-0 earlier Saturday to finish third. ' ' '